Where Gavin and Stacey cast are now – from star who quit fame for normal job to actor hit by train after boozy night out
OVER 18 million people watched Nessa propose to Smithy in the most-watched show of the decade.
Now, five years on from that Gavin and Stacey Christmas special, the hit comedy is said to be returning once more.
Deadline reports that James Corden and Ruth Jones have secretly worked on a brand new episode.
The industry site says filming will begin this summer, with the majority of the main cast likely to return.
This includes Mathew Horne and Joanna Page in the titular roles, along with favourites Rob Brydon as Uncle Bryn, and Alison Steadman and Larry Lamb as Gavin’s devoted parents Pamela and Mick Shipman.
But what has the cast been up to in the interim years since the original series ended in 2010?
Joanna Page (Stacey)
Love Actually star Joanna Page, 46, played chatterbox Stacey.
While starring on the series she also appeared in adverts for Kingsmill bread, Carphone Warehouse and Superdrug, as well as on the cover of FHM.
Since the series finale the now mum-of-four has made sporadic telly appearances – including as Queen Elizabeth I in Doctor Who.
However, after returning to Gavin and Stacey for the 2019 Christmas special, her star is back on the rise.
Joanna starred in the 2020 film Dream Horse, with Damian Lewis, and is been a regular guest panellist on Loose Women.
Last year she landed a TV job training to become an assistant vet, with the show set to air this year.
She said: “I adore animals and we as a family just love them. My children are very excited about me doing this new show.”
She also co-hosted The Pet Show alongside Dermot O’Leary, but it was axed after just one season.
Mathew Horne (Gavin)
The Catherine Tate Show actor, 45, became a national treasure playing kind-hearted Gavin, and went on to star in BBC’s Bad Education.
In 2018 he appeared on stage in Rain Man, and it was announced he would be in the new Dad’s Army remake.
But in December the same year, Mathew was struck by a train after a boozy night out walking back to his parents’ house in Nottingham.
He was hurled backwards after it clipped him at a pedestrian crossing, but didn’t require hospital treatment.
Mathew is still acting, most recently starring in Inside No. 9.
Melanie Walters (Gwen)
After the main show ended Melanie Walters, 62, who played Gwen, decided to branch out from acting.
She set up Practical Pilates in Swansea, Wales to help locals improve their posture.
The actress also lets self-catering holiday rentals on beauty spot the Gower Peninsula.
However, her Gavin & Stacey co-star Larry Lamb tempted her back in front of the camera in 2019.
The pair appeared in Pitching In, a four-part BBC drama set around a caravan park in Angelsey, on the north Wales coast.
She also plays Gran in children’s TV show Biff & Chip, and is a panto regular.
Oscar Hartland (baby Neil)
Nessa and Smithy’s baby Neil is now all grown up.
The youngster was played by three babies – Ewan Kennedy, Oscar Hartland and Lewis Marchant.
But Oscar, now 16, was thrilled to return for the highly-anticipated Christmas special in 2019, after auditioning for the role.
“I thought I was getting a different part but I actually got Neil,” he told GMB. “I was really excited about filming.”
Oscar is now a rhythm guitarist and co-frontman of band Redwood City, along with his mate Shay.
In August last year he actually bumped into co-star Melanie on a walk around Swansea pier, and shared a snap of them together.
Larry Lamb (Mick)
Already a regular on the telly, Larry Lamb, 76, has seen his star status rise even further since playing Gavin’s down-to-earth dad Mick.
At the same time as the sitcom aired, he played villain Archie Mitchell on EastEnders.
He also starred in the 2016 series of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here.
A year later he consolidated his newfound public popularity with an appearance on Channel 5’s Britain by Bike with Larry and George Lamb, and film The Hatton Garden Job.
Last year he starred in Channel 5’s The Inheritance.
Sheridan Smith (Ruth)
Playing Smithy’s younger sister Ruth in seasons two and three was one of 42-year-old Sheridan Smith‘s first big breakthrough roles, along with Two Pints of Lager.
While playing the gobby, tracksuit-wearing sis, she also took on the role of Elle Woods in the 2008 musical version of Legally Blonde and nabbed both rave reviews and a Laurence Olivier Award.
After the sitcom wrapped in 2010, Sheridan continued to wow on both stage and screen.
Her role alongside Sienna Miller in 2011’s Flare Path won her a second Laurence Olivier Award, and she took the lead in 2016’s Funny Girl – in which she continued to perform even after her dad Colin’s terminal cancer diagnosis.
On the telly, she was given a BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress for 2013’s Mrs Biggs, and was nominated for awards for her parts in 2015’s Cilla, 2016’s The C Word, 2016’s Black Work and 2018’s The Moorside.
Sheridan released her debut album A Northern Soul in 2019. The actress revealed she’d had a mental breakdown that had seen her battle anxiety and depression following her dad’s death in 2017.
But happier news came in May 2020, when she gave birth to her son, Billy, with Jamie Horn – who she split from a year later.
After fronting a hugely successful West End run of Shirley Valentine last year, she’s soon set to take to the stage again in upcoming show Opening Night.
Alison Steadman (Pam)
Alison Steadman, 77, played Mick’s wife Pam Shipman.
She was a successful film and TV actress by the time she appeared in the sitcom, and had already won two Laurence Olivier Awards, two BAFTAs and been given an OBE.
Since the series ended, the mum-of-two has starred in 2015 film Burn Burn Burn, as well as BBC series Boomers, Hold The Sunset and the hit series Life, in 2020
She also presented a three-part Channel 4 series Little British Islands, and a travel show with Larry Lamb last year, in which they went from Billericay to Barry.
Last year, while giving a talk on her career, Alison was left “shaken” and forced to flee her own show when an elderly fan collapsed midway through.
Ruth Jones (Nessa)
Her straight-talking character Nessa was a fan favourite – but Ruth Jones, 57, also rose to prominence thanks to the hilarious script she co-wrote with James Corden.
After securing two BAFTAs and four British Comedy Awards, the former Fat Friends and Little Britain star went on to appear in two BBC period costume dramas, Tess of the d’Urbervilles and Little Dorrit.
In 2014, she was appointed an MBE for services to entertainment.
She has also set up her own production company with her husband David Peet, and in 2018 she released her first novel, Never Greener.
Last year it was revealed Ruth was in talks with James and Alison Steadman to bring back beloved sitcom Fat Friends – where they first all met.
Steffan Rhodri (Dave)
The Welsh actor, 56, won over Gavin & Stacey fans with his character Dave Coaches.
He’s since proved a hit with Potterheads after starring as magical maintenance department worker Reg Cattermole in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One.
He also played DC Neil Jones in ITV drama Manhunt.
In recent years Steffan has focused on stage acting, playing Banquo in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth last year.
James Corden (Smithy)
Arguably the most famous Gavin & Stacey export is James Corden who has gone on to become a fully-fledged A-lister on the other side of the pond.
After the sitcom ended in 2010, he starred in three Hollywood movies – including 2014 comedy Into The Woods with Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep and Anna Kendrick, as well as 2016 animation Trolls.
In 2015 the father-of-three moved with his family to Los Angeles to host The Late Late Show with James Corden, spawning the hugely successful Carpool Karaoke – which the likes of Michelle Obama and Ed Sheeran have appeared in.
James quit The Late Late Show last year, but his success has seen him become an Oscars and Met Gala regular.
His new gig is a SiriusXM radio show called This Life of Mine, which will feature in-depth conversations with the “world’s biggest stars”.
Rob Brydon (Bryn)
By the time he was making viewers cry with laughter on Gavin & Stacey, Glamorgan-born Rob Brydon, 58, was already a familiar face, having worked as a radio presenter for a variety of BBC programmes and starred in Supernova.
When the sitcom ended he appeared in Hollywood movie The Huntsmen: Winter’s War, the BBC comedy series Marion and Geoff and its spin-off The Keith Barret Show, and appeared alongside Steve Coogan in The Trip.
The father-of-four has also presented BBC’s Would I Lie To You?, The Rob Brydon show and The Guess List.
Last year he even had a cameo in the Barbie movie, as Sugar Daddy Ken.
In 2013, he was awarded an MBE for services to comedy and broadcasting.
Margaret John
Margaret John played Gwen’s neighbour Doris O’Neill, famous for her hilarious one-liners.
In 2011, the actress sadly passed away from liver cancer, aged 84.
Just before her death, Swansea University awarded Maragret an Honorary Fellowship in recognition of her long career.
In the festive reunion episode, Margaret’s death was acknowledged when the characters raised a glass to Doris.
In true Nessa style she refused to join in, because Gavin and Stacey had been left the pensioner’s house rather than her.